Anne-Caroline Chausson
Encyclopedia
Anne-Caroline ChaussonAnne-Caroline Chausson (born October 8, 1977 in Dijon
, France
) is a French
Olympic gold medalist in BMX
, and downhill
time trial
and cross-country mass start
, dual, and four-cross mountain bicycle
racer
, best known for having won thirteen Union Cycliste Internationale
senior world championship
rainbow jersey
s, fourteen continental
championships, and seven Mountain Bike World Cup
championships, and, in part in view of which, for having been a nominee for the 2003 Laureus World Sports Awards
Alternative Sportsperson of the Year.
career that ended in 1993 and enjoyed quick success early in her mountain bike racing career, winning the 1993, 1994, and 1995 downhill
junior world championship
gold medal
s before matriculating to the senior circuit, at which she would win titles in eight consecutive years. Chausson has also been regarded to be the worlds greatest downhiller of all time. In 1996, when she finished second behind American Missy Giove
for the overall World Cup
title, Chausson captured the world title, defeating silver medal
list American Leigh Donovan
and Giove, who would claim the bronze
. Chausson would once more finish second to Giove in the 1997 World Cup overall standings but easily claimed that year's world championship, defeating Swiss
Marielle Saner and Finn
Katja Repo.
In 1998, Chausson finally overcame Giove, with whom she would battle
for nearly a decade
, to win the World Cup title and subsequently won the world championship over World Cup bronze medallist Nolvenn LeCaer; she would repeat her double in 1999 and 2000, each time topping Giove for the World Cup title and Repo for the world championship.
In 2000, Chausson expanded her competitive repertoire, participating in the duals event, in which riders compete on parallel courses, composed of identical obstacles—primarily jump
s and berm
s—in a single-elimination tournament
, during the third season in which it was contested at the World Cup level, after which the 2000 iteration of the world championships featured the event for the first time; Chausson captured each crown, ahead each time of American Tara Llanes
. Chausson once more participated in the duals event in 2001, failing to win a medal in the World Cup, won by Donovan, but winning the world championship once more, garnering the second and last duals title, this over Australian Katrina Miller, the World Cup silver medallist.
The four-cross BMX racing
-inspired event, in which four cyclists ride on the same course betwixt gate
s, such that only the top finisher advances to a subsequent round, was chosen in 2001 by the National Off-Road Bicycle Association, the sports authority
governing mountain biking for USA Cycling
, to replace the duals and duals-slalom
events and replaced the duals event in 2002 in both the World Cup and world championships competitions; Chausson nevertheless won the four-cross and downhill titles in each, ahead of countrymate Sabrina Jonnier in each, save for in the four-cross event at the world championships, where she topped Miller.
In 2007 she resumed BMX racing in pursuit of an Olympic medal in BMX racing
which was making its debut in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. This effort was successful when she won the Gold Medal in Women's BMX. Since the Women's Final Event, the Medal Round, was staged before the Men's, she became the very first person to win a Gold medal - and of course a medal of any kind - in that sport.
event at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, with Laëtitia Le Corguillé
. She became the first ever Olympic gold medal winner in BMX racing after winning the one-round final, while Le Corguillé took the silver medal after British
rider Shanaze Reade
clipped Chausson's rear wheel and fell in the final turn.
Dijon
Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) is a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Olympic gold medalist in BMX
BMX
Bicycle motocross or BMX refers to the sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles, and it is also the term that refers to the bicycle itself that is designed for dirt and motocross cycling.- History :BMX started...
, and downhill
Downhill cycling
Downhill biking is a gravity-assisted time trial mountain biking event. Riders race against the clock, usually starting at intervals of 30 seconds , on courses which typically take two to five minutes to complete. Riders come from all around the world. Riders are timed with equipment similar to...
time trial
Time trial
In many racing sports an athlete will compete in a time trial against the clock to secure the fastest time. In cycling, for example, a time trial can be a single track cycling event, or an individual or team time trial on the road, and either or both of the latter may form components of...
and cross-country mass start
Mass start
Mass start is a format of starting in some events in athletics , such as a marathon race, speedskating or a long-distance cross country skiing competition....
, dual, and four-cross mountain bicycle
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
racer
Mountain bike racing
The Union Cycliste Internationale recognised the sport of mountain bike racing relatively late in 1990, when it sanctioned the world championships in Purgatory, Colorado. The first mountain biking world cup series took place in 1991. Its nine-race circuit covered two continents—Europe and North...
, best known for having won thirteen Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....
senior world championship
Mountain Bike World Championships
The UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships are the world championship events for mountain bike racing events in cross country, downhill, four-cross and trials riding events. It is organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale , and winners are presented with a gold medal and are entitled...
rainbow jersey
Rainbow jersey
The Rainbow jersey is the distinctive jersey worn by the reigning world champion in a bicycle racing discipline. The jersey is predominantly white with five horizontal bands in the UCI colours around the chest. From the bottom up the colours are: green, yellow, black, red and blue; the same colours...
s, fourteen continental
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
championships, and seven Mountain Bike World Cup
Mountain Bike World Cup
The UCI Mountain Bike World Cup is a multi-round mountain bike racing series that is sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale. The first World Cup series – which was composed of cross-country events – was held in 1989. The Downhill World Cup was inaugurated two years later, and the Dual...
championships, and, in part in view of which, for having been a nominee for the 2003 Laureus World Sports Awards
Laureus World Sports Awards
The Laureus World Sports Awards are awarded annually to sportspeople who have been outstanding during the previous year. The Laureus World Sports Awards were established in 1999 by Founding Patrons Daimler and Richemont and is supported by its Global Partners Mercedes-Benz, IWC Schaffhausen and...
Alternative Sportsperson of the Year.
Career highlights
Born in Dijon, Chausson capitalized on her previously successful BMX racingBMX racing
BMX racing is a type of off-road bicycle racing. The format of BMX was derived from motocross racing. BMX bicycle races are sprint races on purpose-built off-road single-lap race tracks. The track usually small a starting gate for up to eight racers, a groomed, serpentine, dirt race course made of...
career that ended in 1993 and enjoyed quick success early in her mountain bike racing career, winning the 1993, 1994, and 1995 downhill
Downhill cycling
Downhill biking is a gravity-assisted time trial mountain biking event. Riders race against the clock, usually starting at intervals of 30 seconds , on courses which typically take two to five minutes to complete. Riders come from all around the world. Riders are timed with equipment similar to...
junior world championship
Mountain Bike World Championships
The UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships are the world championship events for mountain bike racing events in cross country, downhill, four-cross and trials riding events. It is organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale , and winners are presented with a gold medal and are entitled...
gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
s before matriculating to the senior circuit, at which she would win titles in eight consecutive years. Chausson has also been regarded to be the worlds greatest downhiller of all time. In 1996, when she finished second behind American Missy Giove
Missy Giove
Melissa "Missy" Giove is a former professional downhill mountain biker. Her nickname is The Missile.Giove was one of mountain-bike racing's first mainstream female superstars, did some ads for Reebok, is the all-time leader in NORBA downhill wins with 14, and is second on the World Cup list with 11...
for the overall World Cup
Mountain Bike World Cup
The UCI Mountain Bike World Cup is a multi-round mountain bike racing series that is sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale. The first World Cup series – which was composed of cross-country events – was held in 1989. The Downhill World Cup was inaugurated two years later, and the Dual...
title, Chausson captured the world title, defeating silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
list American Leigh Donovan
Leigh Donovan
Leigh Donovan is an American downhill mountain biker.Leigh Donovan was a champion mountain bike racer, competing from 1993 to 2001, the most decorated U.S. downhill and slalom rider. Leigh retired from her professional career in 2001, with the world championships in Vail, Co...
and Giove, who would claim the bronze
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
. Chausson would once more finish second to Giove in the 1997 World Cup overall standings but easily claimed that year's world championship, defeating Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
Marielle Saner and Finn
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
Katja Repo.
In 1998, Chausson finally overcame Giove, with whom she would battle
Sports rivalry
A sports rivalry is intense competition between athletic teams or athletes. This pressure of competition is felt by players, coaches, and management, but is perhaps felt strongest by the fans. The intensity of the rivalry varies from a friendly competition on one end to serious violence on the...
for nearly a decade
Decade
A decade is a period of 10 years. The word is derived from the Ancient Greek dekas which means ten. This etymology is sometime confused with the Latin decas and dies , which is not correct....
, to win the World Cup title and subsequently won the world championship over World Cup bronze medallist Nolvenn LeCaer; she would repeat her double in 1999 and 2000, each time topping Giove for the World Cup title and Repo for the world championship.
In 2000, Chausson expanded her competitive repertoire, participating in the duals event, in which riders compete on parallel courses, composed of identical obstacles—primarily jump
Jump
Jump may refer to:* Jumping, to propel oneself rapidly upward such that momentum causes the body to become airborne* To get attacked by a group of people e.g...
s and berm
Berm
A berm is a level space, shelf, or raised barrier separating two areas. Berm originates in the Middle Dutch and German berme and came into usage in English via French.- History :...
s—in a single-elimination tournament
Single-elimination tournament
A single-elimination tournament, also called a knockout, cup or sudden death tournament, is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of each match or bracket is immediately eliminated from winning the championship or first prize in the event...
, during the third season in which it was contested at the World Cup level, after which the 2000 iteration of the world championships featured the event for the first time; Chausson captured each crown, ahead each time of American Tara Llanes
Tara Llanes
Tara Janelle Llanes was an American "Mid School" Bicycle Motocross racer whose prime competitive years were from 1990-1993. She later became a champion Mountain Bike racer...
. Chausson once more participated in the duals event in 2001, failing to win a medal in the World Cup, won by Donovan, but winning the world championship once more, garnering the second and last duals title, this over Australian Katrina Miller, the World Cup silver medallist.
The four-cross BMX racing
BMX racing
BMX racing is a type of off-road bicycle racing. The format of BMX was derived from motocross racing. BMX bicycle races are sprint races on purpose-built off-road single-lap race tracks. The track usually small a starting gate for up to eight racers, a groomed, serpentine, dirt race course made of...
-inspired event, in which four cyclists ride on the same course betwixt gate
Gate
A gate is a point of entry to a space enclosed by walls, or a moderately sized opening in a fence. Gates may prevent or control entry or exit, or they may be merely decorative. Other terms for gate include yett and port...
s, such that only the top finisher advances to a subsequent round, was chosen in 2001 by the National Off-Road Bicycle Association, the sports authority
Sport governing body
A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...
governing mountain biking for USA Cycling
USA Cycling
USA Cycling or USAC, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is the national governing body for bicycle racing in the United States. It covers the disciplines of road, track, mountain bike, cyclo-cross, BMX and collegiate racing...
, to replace the duals and duals-slalom
Zigzag
A zigzag is a pattern made up of small corners at variable angles, though constant within the zigzag, tracing a path between two parallel lines; it can be described as both jagged and fairly regular....
events and replaced the duals event in 2002 in both the World Cup and world championships competitions; Chausson nevertheless won the four-cross and downhill titles in each, ahead of countrymate Sabrina Jonnier in each, save for in the four-cross event at the world championships, where she topped Miller.
In 2007 she resumed BMX racing in pursuit of an Olympic medal in BMX racing
BMX racing
BMX racing is a type of off-road bicycle racing. The format of BMX was derived from motocross racing. BMX bicycle races are sprint races on purpose-built off-road single-lap race tracks. The track usually small a starting gate for up to eight racers, a groomed, serpentine, dirt race course made of...
which was making its debut in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. This effort was successful when she won the Gold Medal in Women's BMX. Since the Women's Final Event, the Medal Round, was staged before the Men's, she became the very first person to win a Gold medal - and of course a medal of any kind - in that sport.
BMX Olympic champion
Chausson was chosen to represent France in the inaugural BMXBMX
Bicycle motocross or BMX refers to the sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles, and it is also the term that refers to the bicycle itself that is designed for dirt and motocross cycling.- History :BMX started...
event at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, with Laëtitia Le Corguillé
Laëtitia Le Corguillé
Laëtitia Le Corguillé is a French BMX racer and Olympic athlete who won the silver medal in BMX at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.-External links:...
. She became the first ever Olympic gold medal winner in BMX racing after winning the one-round final, while Le Corguillé took the silver medal after British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rider Shanaze Reade
Shanaze Reade
Shanaze Danielle Reade is a professional British Bicycle Motocross racer and track cyclist whose prime competitive years began in 2002. She has won the UCI BMX World Championships three times...
clipped Chausson's rear wheel and fell in the final turn.
Titles
- Junior Downhill World Champion: 1993, 1994, 1995
- Downhill World Champion: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005
- Dual World Champion: 2000, 2001
- 4X World Champion: 2002, 2003
- Olympic Champion: 2008